Overview

Integrated across the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), and The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR), the B.S. degree program in Environmental Sciences (ENSC) draws from a breadth of scientific inquiry on the environment that reflects the diversity of this naturally multidisciplinary endeavor. All ENSC majors receive a strong foundation in the basic sciences coupled with an in-depth exposure to and experience in today's environmental sciences. This prepares students to successfully compete in the environmental sciences job market as well as continue their education in the environmental sciences or a related field.

Each unit has a unique perspective on the discipline, and students are free to explore the environmental sciences within a context that best fits their interests and future plans:

In CALS, faculty research has a strong orientation toward applied environmental problems, not only in agricultural settings but also in the disciplines of plant biology, microbiology, soil science and international development. Students are engaged in experiential learning and hands-on research. Graduates have attained positions with environmental consulting firms, government and non-government environmental organizations, or continued with further education in a variety of fields.

In CAS, the environmental sciences serve as a hub for a broad-based liberal arts education. Drawing from traditional science disciplines, such as biology, chemistry and geology, this interdisciplinary degree program aims to develop in students the analytical skills and scientific background necessary for understanding the environment and environmental problems. By participating in active research programs involved in studying environmental problems, students are able to integrate and apply fundamental scientific inquiry with application to problems of environmental importance.

In RSENR, an in-depth knowledge of the environmental sciences is coupled with a familiarity with the social/policy aspects of environmental issues in order to analyze and solve problems caused by human impacts on the environment. Blending hands-on field and laboratory instruction with real-world environmental internship, research, and study abroad opportunities, students acquire the skill set needed to tackle complex environmental problems. With the school's emphasis on such cutting-edge areas as ecological design, restoration of damaged ecosystems and environmental risk assessment, RSENR graduates are equipped with the latest tools to protect our woods, waters and landscapes.